Railway crossing



July 111-1923.y

July i7, 1923. 11,462,408

J. P. HoUK RAILWAY CROSSINGl 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed J /4 "1,

Jj? om; M- @i ATTUH/VEYS WITNESS July 117, 1923. EASZ@ J. P. HOUK RAILWA-Y CROSSING Filed Jap. 24l .1.923 s sheets-sheet MMM K Patented july i7, i923.

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JWIES PAUL HOUK, OF MOUNTAIN GROVE, MSSOURI.

RAILWAY cnossrNG.

Application filed January 24, 1923. Serial No. 614,712.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, JAMES PAUL Hoon, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Mountain Grove, in the county of Wright and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway Crossings, of which the following is a specilication.

My invention relates generally to railway crossings, more particularly to railway crossings of the type embodying means for automatically rendering the track rails continuous for the passage of car wheels across the crossing, thereby obviating the jars, shocks and wear which would be caused by the wheels when they cross a gap between intersecting rails, and it consists in the combinations, constructions and arrangements herein described and claimed.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved and simplied railway crossing of the character described which includes means adapted to be actuated by the first wheels of an approaching train to establish and maintain continuity ofv rails for the passage of the train without any additional wear on the wheels of the train or on the elements of the railway crossing during the passage of the train.

A further object of the invention is to provide a railway crossing of the character described which affords facilities for successively establishing and maintaining continuity of track rails for trains traveling thereover in directions extending at right angles to each other.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a railway crossing of the character described which is strong and durable in construction, comprises butI relatively few part-s andv which is not likely to wear out quickly in service.

Other objects and advantages will be apparentI from the following description, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in whichc Figure l is a plan view showing a railway crossing embodying the invention,

Figure 2 is a similar view of a fragmentary portion of the structure shown in Figure l, showingcoinplete one of two complementary sections comprised in the crossing,

Figure 3 is a relatively enlarged plan view, showing a portion of one of the complementary sections of the crossing, portions thereof being broken away to exhibit parts otherwise undisclosed, and

Figure 4 is a perspective group View showing in disassociated relation certain of the elements exhibited in the preceding views.

A railway crossing embodying the invention is adapted to join the rails l--l of a track generally designated A to the rails 2-2 of a track B, the joined together portions of the two tracks extending at right angles to each other. A railway crossing embodying the invention in the form now preferred by me includes two complementary sections indicated generally at C and C1, each of which is precisely identical in essential respects with the other.' I shall therefore confine my description to the details of construction of the section C which will suffice also as a description of the details of construction of the section C1 and have used the same reference characters todesignate like parts of the two sections. Y

The section C includes a flat base portion 3 which is of double cruciform shape and includes a longitudinal or straight body 4 provided at determined points valong its length with pairs of oppositely extending lateral branches or arms 5-5 and 6 6 respectively, the branches or arms of each pair extending in alignment with each other and at right angles to th'e body 4. The pairs of branches or arms 5-5 and' 6-6 intersect the body 4f at appreciable and preferably equal distances from the opposite ends of the latter and are so located in respect-to each other that the distance therebetween is equal to the gauge or distance between the rails of one of the tracks with which the crossing is to be associated. in the embodiment of the invention illustrated the distance between the pairs of branches or arms 5-5 and 6-6 is equal to the distance between the rails 2-2 of the track B, it being understood that such distances are computed between the longitudinal median lines of the branches 5-5 and 6-6 and between the longitudinal median lines of the rails 2.

A track rail section 7 and a guard rail section 8 are formed integrally with the portion of the body t extending between the respective pairs of branches and are upstanding from the latter. The track rail section 9 extending in upstanding relation to one of the branches 5 is integral with the latter and is merged at its inner end at a right angle into a track section which is upstanding j from one end portion of the'body 4 and is lable known connecting means.

integral with the latter.

Track rail sections 11 and 12 similar to the track rail sections 9 and 10 respectively are formed upon one of the branches 6 and the other end portion of the body 4. The said one branch 5 and the one branch 6 also have integral upstanding guard rail sections 13 and 14 respectively extending thereon in spacedparal-lel relation to the trackrail sections 9 and 11 and along the proximate edges of the 'said one vbranch 5 and onebranch 6. The guardrail sections 13 and 14 are outwardly yflaring and thus extend toward each other adjacent to their outer ends. The second branch or arm 5 is formed with an integral upstanding track rail section 15 thereon, which track rail section is in axial alignment with the track railsection 9. A track railsection 16 formed on the second branch 6 is in axial'alignment with the ltrack railA section` 11. A guard rail section 17 formed on the second branch 5 is in'. axial alignment with the guard rail section 13 and the. guard rail section 18 on the second branch l6 isk in :axial alignment'with the guard rail'section 14. The end portions ot the body 4 have integral guard rail: sections 19 and 2() respectively which are in alignment with=each otherand with the intermediate guard rail section 8 and which liare laterally adjacentto their oppositeends as best seen'vin Figure 2. f

rlhe base-f3 'and the track and guard rail sections which have been described vas being located thereon are formed by casting or in any other suitable manner in one piece `and the'track rail sections are preferably although not'necessarily ot the box `type oit construction, as shown. The integral track railr sections 9 and 10 are. preferably ot greaterividth ,for the greater partfot their lengthlthan the width ot the head flanges ot' therailsI-l and 2-2 but are reduced or tapered at theirl outer ends as indicated at 9a and '102L respectively to conform Vin width to the 'head lianges ofthe track rails2` and 1 to which `the respective track rails sections 9 and 10 may be joined by nutsa'nd bolts indicated'generally at 21 or by-any other suit- Track rail sections `11 and 12 are correspondingly reduced or tapered at their'outer ends as indicated at lla'and 12a respectively and are joinedwrespectively fto one of the -rails 2 and one o'tthe rails 1 by splice plates and bolts 21. The intersecting portions of the'branches 5--5 and the body 4y and` of the branches 6-6 and body 4 are enlarged laterally as generally indicated at 22 and 23 respectively.

The vapex ot the connected together track railsections`9 and 10 terminates at the apvproximate center of the venlarged baseV portion 22 awhile the apex of the integral trackl vtheir inner ends.

point on the enlarged base portion 23.

The intermediate track rail section 7 'terminates at its ends short of the inner ends of the track rail sections 10 and 12 and the track rail Sections v15 and 16 likewise terminate short of the inner ends of the track rail sections 9 and 11 to provide clearance for the flanges of wheels passing vfrom the track rail sections 10 or 12 to the intermediate track rail section 7 or vice versaor .from the track railsections 9 and 11 to the track rail sections 15 and 16 or vice versa. The guard rail section 8 likewise terminates at itsend short of the inner end of the guard rail sections 19 Land 20,` the guard rail sections 13 and 17 terminate short of each other at their proximate ends and the guard rail sections 14 :and 18 terminate short of each other at My invention provides means adapted to be actuated by the wheels oi a train traversing the crossing to .effect la bridging olf' the gap .between adjacent aligned track and rail sections so that thepassage ot a train along'either `of the tracks A and B may be accomplished without excessive incise, shocks, jars or wear on therelatively moving parts. Such means includes pairs of cooperative bridge members v24a-nd 25 respectively movably supported upon each ot the enlargements 22 and` 23 and functioning in a manner to be hereinafterdescribed.

' It is to be observed at this point that the track rail section 15 tapers in width uniformly from a point adjacent to itsouter to its inner end so that the distance between it and the .guard rail 17 is greatestat the inner end-of the latter. The track rail `section 16 likewise tapers in width from a point adjacent to outer end to its innerend.v The each Aof the enlargements22 andl 23 for the y accommodation of a pair of the cooperative bridge members 24 and 25.

Each of the bridge members 24 is sub` stantially T-shziped and comprises a wedge shaped or tapering body 26 merged at Aits widest end into a head -ihaving lportions 27 and 28 extending laterally of `the bodyand infopposite directions. The body 26 isadapted to slide in contact withfthe -taperingpor` tion of one of the track rail sections 15 `or 16 and to be complementalto such tapering portion. A stop elen'ient in the torni .ot a

bolt 29 supported adjacent to its one end in a transverse opening through the tapered end portion of the track rail section 15 and at its other end in a transverse opening through an upstanding lug 30 on the enlarge-- ment 22 coacts witlran elongated opening 31 through the body 26 to limit the extent of movement of the body 26 in the direction of its length. A like stop element which is also designated 29 and which is supported adjacent to one of its ends in a transverse opening in the inner end portion of the track rail section 16 andI a-dijacent to its other end in an upstanding lug` 32 on the extension 23 coacts with the elongatedopening or slot 31 in the body of the bridge member 24k which is disposed upon the enlargement 23.

It will be understood that the respective bridge members 2st are slid-.ably supported upon the base 3. Each bridge member 25 also is substantially T-shaped and includes a wedge-shaped or tapering body 33 merged at its Widest end into a head having oppositely extending lateral branches 34 and 35 respectively. The tapering body 33 is adapted to slide upon the body portion l in contiguous relation to one of the tapering end portions ofthe section 7 and to complement such tapering end portions. The lateral branch 28 of the bridge member 2a is reduced in thickness adjacent to its juncture with thefbody 26 by a notch 36 in the lower face thereof and a notch 3T in the upper face thereof to slidably engage a slot 38 in the lateral branch 35 of the associated bridge member 25 so that the cooperative members 24 and 25 on one of the enlargements 22 and may be arranged with the head portions thereof in intersecting relation, as shown. The notch 3T is of greater length than the width of the portion of the branch 35 extending therethrough so that limited movement of the bridge'members 25 in the direction of the length. of the bodies 33 thereof is permitted. Bolts 39 constituting stop elements coactwith ciongated openings 40 inthe bodiesof the bridge member 25 to limit the extent of bodily movement of the bridge member 25 in the direction of the length of the body thereof Without causing any strain on the cooperative bridge member 24. One of the bolts 39 is supported adjacent to one of its ends' in an opening through one end portion of the track rail section 7 and adjacent to its other end in an opening through an upstanding lug 4l on the enlargement 22 while the other bolt 39 is supported adjacent to one end in an opening through the other end portion of the track rail section 7 and adj acent to its other end in a lng 42 upstanding from the enlargement 23. The bolt 29 which constitutes the stop element for one of the members 24 extends through an opening 43 in the lateral branch 35 of the cooperating member 25 and guides the latter in its bodily movement, being aided in such guiding action by a bolt 4d extending through an opening 45 in the other branch of the cooperating member 25. One of the bolts de is supported adjacent to its one end in a transverse opening through the track rail section 9 and adjacent to its other end in an opening through a lug i6 which is upstanding from the enlargement 22. The other bolt ed is supported adjacent to one of its ends in an opening through the track rail section 11. and adjacent to its outer end in an upstanding lug et? on the enlargement 23.

Each of the bolts 39 extends through an opening i3 in the lateral branch 28 of one of the bridge members 24 and aids a bolt L9 vwhich extends through an opening 50 in the other 24- in lateral branch of the bridge member guiding the latter in its bodily movement in the direction of the length of the body thereof. One of the bolts i9 is supported adjacent to its one end in a transverse opening through one of the track rail sectionslO and adjacent to its other end in an opening through an upstanding lug 51 on the extension 22 while the other bolt 49 is supported adjacent to one of its ends -in a. transverse opening through the track rail section 12 and adjacent to its other end in an opening through an upstanding lug-52 on the enlargement 23. The length of the slot 33 is greater than the width of the portion of th-e branch 23 sliding therein so as to allow movement of each of the bridge members 24 in the direction of its length and relatively to the bridge member 25 with which associated. The upper wall. ofthe slot 33 is cut away along one side of the body 33 as indicated at 53 to provide av gap for the accommodation of the flanges of wheels passing in one direction on the crossing.

From the foregoing` description of the various parts of the device, the operation thereof may be readily understood. The bridge men'ib'ers 25 are spring pressedl by expansion springs such as indicated at 5ft in Figure 3 so that one of the members is urged toward contiguous relation to the aligned body of the bridge member at the track rail section 9 while the other bridge member 25 is urged toward contiguous relation to the body of the other bridge member 24J and the track rail section 11. rin integral projection 55 on the head of one of the bridge members 24 is interposed between the head of the cooperatingr bridge member 25 and the proximate side of the track rail section 9 to hold the one bric ge member 25 away from the track rail section 9. The projection 55 on the other bridge member 2-l is interposed between the head of the other bridge member 25 and the track rail section. 1 1 to hold the second bridge member 25 away from the track rail section 1l. At thlstlme, the bridge members'24t are permitted to move in response to actuation by springs similar tok the springs 511- and which are not shown in the drawings into contiguous relation to the aligned track rail section 10 and body ot one ot the members 25 and into contiguous relation to the track rail section 12 and the body of the other bridge member 25. y means ci splice plates and bolts indicated at56 secured to the meeting ends of corresponding` aligned track and guide rail sections, as illustra-ted in Figure 1, continuous rails are provided for cars traversing thev track The head ot one of the bridge members 24- spans the gap between the ends of the guard rail sections 1 9 and 8 and the head of the otherwbridge member 24. spans the gap between the other end ot the guard railsection 8 and the guard rail section 20. rlhe head ot one ot the bridge members 25 spans the gap betweenthe guard rail sections 18 'and 17 while the head of the other bridge member 25 spans the gap between the guard rail sections ltand 1S sothat a slot is provided for the iiangcs of wheels traversing the track l. The passage ot the train along the track B and on the crossing will thus be unattended'by shocks, jars, undue wear on the relatively moving parts and will befpracti-` `cally noiseless.

The bridge members 24 and 25 will remain in position illustrated in lFigures 1 and 2 until a train approaches on the track A. The first wheelof thctrain will contact with the beveled or inclined outer tace ot one off the branches of the bridge member 24 first encountered and will span the latter against spring action trom the position illustrated in Figures 1 Aand 2 away from the aligned rail track sect-ion 10 and body of the bridge member 25 or from the aligned body of the bridge member 25 and rail track section 12 against spring action. As soon. as the contacted bridge member 2st has been moved a sujfiicient distance, ythe associated bridge member 25 will be permitted to move in response to actuation of the associated spring 54l until a projection 57 on the head thereof is interposed between the head of the bridge member 24 and one ot the rail tracksections 10 or 12, whereupon the bridge members 24rwill be held away :trom the track rail section The head of each ot with'which associated. the bridge members 25 has the branches thereof lprovided with beveled outer faces corresponding te the beveled outer faces of the branches of the head o'lieach. bridge member 2-1 so that the iirstwheel of a train approaching on the trackB will engage with the beveled face olil the proximate flange of one of the bridge members 25 and the latter will be moved from contiguous rela-tion to one of the` track rail sections 9 or 11 to the position illustratedv in Figures 1 and`2.v The projections 55 on the bridge members 24 will then function in the manner hereinbefore described to hold the bridge members 25 in open position until thebridge members 2-1 are operated by a train approaching on the track A.

It will thus be seen that the operation of i the movable bridge members occasions but very little any eXtra wear on 'the relatively moving parts of the crossing and ot a train traversing the crossing for the reason that each bridge member will be positively held in open relation to the track rail when moved to such position by the first wheel ot a train traversing the crossing until permitted to move to closed position to cause the operation of the bridge member associated therewith. As stated,

each ol the bridge members 24 and 25`isl pressed toward closing relation' 'to an adjacent track rail by an expansion spring, such as shown at 54 in Figure 3. Each expansion spring 5-1- reacts at one end againstthe bottom of a pocket formed in one of the track rail sections, such as the pocket desig` nated 58 in Figure 3 while the other end of the spring engages a hook projection 59 on the body of the bridge member with which the spring is associated. lEach of the bridge members 24 may have a second elongated opening through its vbody similar to the opening 81 and indicated at 60 in Figure 1l. A bolt G1 connecting the track rail section 15 and the guard rail section 17 or the track rail section 1G and the guard rail section 18 coacts With the elongated opening 60 of one of the bridge membersr 25 to supplement the bolts 29k in limiting the longitudinal `movement ofv the bridge member 24C, thereby producing a strong and durable construction. Ina like manner,

Abolts G2 connecting the track rail section 7- and the guard rail section 8 adjacent to the opposite ends 'thereof extend through' elongated openings I63 in the bridge members 25 and .supplement the bolts 39 in limiting longitudinal movement of the bridge mem'- bers 25.

The bridge members 2e and 25 are shown as having grooves 54 in the vlower 'faces ofr of the forms of the device herein described which fairly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is l. A railway crossing of the character described comprising pairs of' spaced apart rails lying in planes intersectingat right angles, each of said rails comprising fixed alined rail sections terminating short of each other at the intersection of the plane of said rail with the plane of one of the rails disposed at right angles thereto, a substantially 'll-shaped bridge member associated with each ot said rails, spring means actingv onsaid bridge member continuously to urge the body of the latter into position to close the gap between adjacent ends ofy adjacent lined sections of 'the'rail and the head of the bridge member against the intersecting rail, said head `being adapted to be actuated by the flange of a car wheel traversing the intersecting rail and moved out of position to close the gap between said linedl rail sections.

2. A railway crossing of the character described, comprising pairs of spaced apart rails lying in planes intersecting at right angles, each of said rails comprising fixed alined rail sections terminating short of each other at'the intersection of the plane of said rail with the plane of one of the rails disposed at right angles thereto, a substantially T-shaped bridge member associated with each of said rails, spring means acting on said bridge member continuously to urge the body of the latter into position to close the gap' between adjacent ends of adjacent fixed sections 'of the rail, and the head of the bridge member against the intersecting rail, said head being adapted to be actuated by the flange of a car wheel traversing the intersecting rail `and moved out of position to close the gap between said fixed rail sections, the head having grooves in the'lower 'face thereof.

S. A railway crossing of the character described, comprising pairs oft spaced apart rails lying in planes intersecting at right angles, each of said rails comprising fixed aligned rail sections terminating short of each other at the intersection of the plane of said rail with the plane of one of the rails disposed at right angles thereto, a substantially T-shaped bridge member associated with each of said rails, spring means acting on said bridge member continuously to urge the body of the latter into position to close the gap between adjacent ends of adjacent fixed sections of the rail, and the head of the bridge member against the intersecting rail, said head having the outer faces of the branches thereof beveled and adapted to be engaged by the fiange of a car wheel traversing the intersecting rail to effeet movement of the bridge member away trom said intersecting rail.

A railway crossing` of the character described, comprising pairs o'f spaced apart rails lying in planes intersecting at right an gies, each 'of said rails comprising fixed aligned rail sections terminating short of each other at the intersection oit the plane of said rail with the plane of one of the rails disposed at right angles thereto, a substantially "'i"'shaped bridge member associated with each of' said rails, spring means acting on lsaid bridge membeil continuously to urge the body of the latterinto position to close the gap between adjacent ends ot adjacent fixed sections of the rail, and the head of the bridge member against the intersecting rail, said head being adapted to be actuated by the flange et car wheel traversing the intersecting rail and moved out'ot' position to close the gap between said fixed rail-sections, said bridge member having an elongated opening through the body thereof, and a stop member carried by one of the fixed sections of the first rail and engaging the opening to limit the bodily movement of the bridge member.

A railway crossing of the character described, comprising pairs of spaced apart rails lying in planes intersecting at right angles, each of said rails comprising fixed aligned rail sections terminating short of each other at the intersection of the plane of said rail with the plane of one of the rails disposed at right angles thereto, a substantially T-shaped bridge member associated with each of said rails, spring means actingy on said bridge member continuously to urge the body of the latter into position to close the gap between adjacent ends of adjacent fixed sections ot the rail.l and the head of the liridge member against the intersecting rail. said head being adapted to be actuated by the flange of a car wheel traversing the intersecting rail and moved out ot position to close the gap between said fixed rail sections, said bridge member having a notch in the upper side of one branch of the head thereof to accommodate the flange of a car wheel traversing the said hrst rail.

6. A railway crossing 0f the character described, comprising pairs of spaced apart rails lying in planes intersecting at right angles, each of said rails comprising fixed alined rail sections terminating short of each other at the intersection of the plane of said rail with the plane of one of the rails disposed at right angles thereto, a substantially rriT-shaped bridge member associated with each of said rails, spring means acting on said bridge member continuously to urge the body of the latter into position to close the gap between adjacent ends of adjacent fixed sections of the rail and the head of the bridge member against the intersecting rail, said head being adapted tol vbe actuated by thel flange of a car wheel traversing the intersecting rail andmoved out of position to close the gap between said fixed rail sections, said bridge member having an elongated opening through the body and guide means carried by a fixed section of the intersecting rail in sliding engagement with the transverse openings through the branches of the head of said bridge member.

7. A railway crossing comprising two complementary sections, each of which is double cruci-forin in shape and includes spaced apart alined fixed sections of one rail of a track and spaced apart alined fixed sections of the rails of a second track, the respective sections of each of said second named rails extendinglaterally of opposite sides of the first rail in planes intersecting at right angles the plane of the latter, said sections of the first rail and of the second rails terminating at their adjacent ends short of juncture with one another, a pair of movable bridge members arranged at each intersection of the plane of the first rail with the plane of one lof said second rails, said bridge members having yportions thereof in intersecting relation and being associ-ated with fixed sections of' rails lying in intersecting planes, spring means urging each bridge into position to bridge the gap between adj acentends of the fixed sections of the rail with which it is as-y sociated, means on each of said bridge mem-` bers for engaging the other bridge member to hold the second bridge member out of gap closing position when the first bridge member is ingap closing position, and means for connecting the meeting ends of the adjacent fixed sections of the second. rails to hold the crossing sections in complemental relation one to the other.

8. A railway crossing comp-rising two complementary sections, each of which is double cruciform in shape and includes spaced apart alined fixed sections of 'one rail of a track and spaced apart alined fixed sections of the rails of a second track, the respective sections of each of said second named rails extending laterally of opposite sides of the first rail in planes intersecting at right angles the planeofy the latter, said sections of the first rail and of the second rails termina-ting at their adjacent ends short ofjuncture with oneanother, a pair of movable bridge members arranged at each intersection of the plane of the first rail with the plane of one of said `second rails,

each of said bridge members being substantially T-sliaped and each havingy a body adapted tobe slid along a fixed section of one of said rails to and from position to close the gap between adjacent ends of the y fixed sections of the rail with the head of the bridge member in abutting relation to the sides of adjacent sections of the rail lying in a plane intersecting that of the first plane, the head portions of saidy bridge members being in intersecting relation in respecty to each other and each having a notch `in its upper side for the accommodation of the fia-nge of a car wheel traversing the rail with ywhich associated, the outer faces of the head of each bridge member being beveled and adapted to be engaged by the flange of a car wheel and urged out of gap closing position and each of said bridge members having a projection on the head thereof adapted to engage with the other bridge member when the former is iny gap closing position and the latter is out of gap closing position tohold the bridge members in the same relative position continuously, spring means urging each of said bridge members toward gap closing position, and means connecting the two sections of the crossingvin position to complement each other.

JAMES PAUL. HoUK. 

